Bicycle.



Patented March 15, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER N. STILSON, OF NEW YORK, N.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFIGATIONforming part of Letters Patent-N0. 754,720, dated March 15, 1904. Application filed October 28, 1902. Serial No. 129,072. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER NILES STIL- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in power-transmitting devices or the like which are especially adapted for use'in bicycles.

The invention involves certain new and 'novel features hereinaftermore fully set forth and illustrated; and one of its objects is a simple, durable, and eflicient device whereby the driving mechanism may be connected with or disconnected from the driven mechanism and speed of difierent degrees imparted to the latter, so that the driving-wheel of, for instance, a bicycle may be entirely controlled at the will of the rider.

A second object is to provide controlling means, preferably handoperated, for bringing the connectmgmeans into operation; and another ob ect is to arrange the device in such -a compact form that the whole'driving. mechwheel, and the accompanying drawings,which' form a part of the present application, illustrate, in v Figure 1, a side view of the inclosed device adapted for use on a bicycle. Fig. 2 is a crosssection of the hand operated controlling means. the line of the main axis of the assembled mechanism. Fig. i is a cross-section in the line X X of Fig. 3 looking toward the right. Fig. 5 is a cross-section similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification of-the device. Fig. 6

. tending the length of the same.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section in used in the construction shown in Fig. 3. Fig.

8 is a perspective side view illustrating the clutch mechanism of the device shownin Fig.

3, and Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a device forv guiding the controlling-rod shown in Fig. 2.

Simllar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

1 in Figs. 1 and 2 is the tubular frame of the bicycle, having its struts connected to the horizontal bar of the frame by means of a joint 2. The strut contains a telescopic tube 3 for suitably supporting the saddle 5 and is held in position at different heights in the joint 2 by a preferably split screw and its nut 4E. The upper part of the telescopic tube -3 is provided with a collar 6, carrying a pivot for a lever 7, one end of which may be locked at times on suitable shoulders of a hook 8,se cured to the lower side of the saddle 5, and

the other end of the lever 7 enters a block 9 of the rod 10, contained within the tube 3 and movable therein. Figs; 9 and 10 illustrate a guide-block 14c for this rod 10, which consists of a cylindrical piece, having a circular boring 15 and being split at 16, so that byinserting two screws'17 in suitable screw-holes in the split the block lt may be expanded and held tightly withinthe telescopic tube.'

V The rod 10 is provided with a series of notches 11 and is surrounded bya tubular rod 12, having at or near its upper'end a springclutch 13, the head of whichis adapted to enter any of the notches 11 of the 'rod 10 and thereby form a rigid connection between rod 10 and tubular rod 12 for the purpose of ex- This arrangement may be made use of when the saddle has to be adjusted at different heights from the frame of the bicycle' One of the principal features of the present invention consists in the fact that the whole speed changingand controlling device is located in a tubular inclosure 18, which may be readily inserted into and removed from the hub portion of the bicycle without disassembling or taking apart any of the parts of the device proper.

The pedal-shaft 19 (representing in the present case the driving member) carries on each end a crank 20 in the usual manner secured to the shaft by screws 21. Keyed to the shaft 19, and therefore constantly rotating with the sami, is a driver 22, Figs. 3 and 8, consisting of a plurality of radial arms 23, each provided with a radial slot 24 for holding a movable member 25, controlled by a coiled spring 26, and tending to force the movable member 25 out toward the cylindrical casing 18 of the device. Each member 25 is held in position by a plate 27, screwed onto the driver 22, and the inner end of 25 enters into suitable radial holes of the hub portion of the driver 22.

Each of the radial arms 23 is furthermore provided with a circumferential-recess 28 and each movable member 25 with a corresponding recess 29. If the movable members 25 are pressed toward the pedal-shaft 19, the two recesses 28 and 29 will coincide and will rotate along the rim 30 of a driven drum 31. If spring 26 is allowed to expand and to press the movable member 25 outwardly, the head of this member 25 will enter the recesses 32 of the rim 30, and the drum 31 will be taken along and rotated by the driver 22.

Fig. 8 illustrates the relation of the two members 22 and 31, but the same are shown separated from each other, while in fact the rim 30 is always located within the recess 28.

The pushing in and out of the movable members 25 is accomplished by the shifting-drum 33, Fig. 7. The same consists of a cylindrical portion having a beveled face 34, which cooperates with a similar beveled face 35 on the head of each member 25. The drum 33 is provided with a number of inclined slots 36, into which fit the ends of screws 37, passing through and secured in the tubular casing 18. The drum 33 is furthermore provided with one member 38 of a ball-and-socketjoint, the other member of which is formed by one end of a link 39. The other end of this link 39 is part of a second ball-and-socket joint between it and the lower end 40 of the tubular rod 12, Fig. 4.

It will be seen that by operating the lever 7, Fig. 2, the tubular rod 12 will be moved up and down, and the drum 33 will not only be rotated, but on accountof the slots 36 gliding along the screw 37 will also be shifted sidewise. The face 34 will come in contact with the faces 35 of the movable members 25, and the latter will be depressed, the recess 29 of the same will coincide with the recess 28 of the driver-arms 23, and their driver will be allowed to rotate along the rim 30 of the drum 31 Without rotating the same.

If the lever 7 should be depressed, rod 12 drawn up, and drum 33 rotated and shifted in the opposite direction, the movable members 25 will be released, the head of the same will close the recesses 28 of the driver 23,will enter the recesses 32 of the drum 31, and will rotate the same.

The drum 31 carries the shafts 41 of a pair of planetary gears, each consisting of two gears 42 and 43 of different diameter. Gear 42 is adapted to at times engage with an integral gear 44 of the drum 33. The other ends of the shafts 41 are fastened to a sleeve 45, onto which is screwed the sprocket-wheel 46, forming a rigid system with said sleeve.

The pedal-shaft 19 carries keyed thereto a central gear 47, which is always in mesh with the smaller ones 43 of the planetary gears.

If the driver 23 drives the drum 31, the whole system-21 a, pedals 20, pedal'shaft 19, driver 23, drum 31, shafts 41, gears 42 and 43, gear 47, sleeve 45, and sprocket-Wheel 46-will all rotate at the same uniform speed.

If the drum 33 is shifted, movable members 25 pushed down, recesses 28 and 29 cleared, then drivers 23 will rotate along rim 30, Fig. 8; but as gear 47 is keyed to the pedal-shaft 19 it will rotate with the shaft and will also rotate the planetary gears 43. The bigger gear 42 being integral with 43 and in mesh with internal gear 44 of the drum 33 will rotate the sleeve 45, and thereby the sprocketwheel 46, at a reduced speed.

Suitable ball-bearings facilitate the rotation of the shaft 19 and the sleeve 45. In order to entirely exclude dust and sand from the casing 18, a dust-proof joint is provided at the ends of the casing 18, consisting of a cover-plate 50, secured to the sides of casing 18 by screws 51 and holding a felt, leather, or fabric washer 52, arranged in such a manner that the bearing-hub 53 is in contact with the washer 52, not only with its circumference but also with the face of an extensionrim 54, forming thereby an inclosure of highest efliciency.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 5 the internal gear in the shifting-drum is omitted, and instead of the driver 22, Fig. 8, being keyed to the pedal-shaft 19 a member similar in shape to the drum 31, Fig. 8, is keyed to said shaft and operates as a driver. This member consists of a drum 55, having rece'sses 56 similar to the recesses 32 in drum 31 of Fig. 8.- A key 57 secures the drum to the pedal-shaft 19. The driven member in this modification consists of a sleeve made in two parts secured together by screws 58 and surrounding the driving-drum 55. Adjoining it are the driven arms 60, having radial slots 61, similar to slots 24 in Fig. 8, which contain spring-controlled movable members 62, also having recesses 63, similar to recesses 29, Fig. 8. The driven arms 60 are secured by the aforementioned screws 58 to the part 64 of the sleeve which carries the sprocketwheel 46. The pedal-shaft 19 has secured thereto by means of a key 65 a gear 66. This gear 66 is in mesh with two planetary gears socket joint '(not shown in the drawings) similar to 38 of Fig. 7 The operation of this modification is as follows: If beveled face 72 is out of contact with the corresponding beveled face on the movable members 62, the head of the same will be located in the recesses 56 of the driving-drum 55, will therefore rotate with the same, and the Whole system, including the sprocket-wheel 46, will rotate at the same speed. If drum 7 O is shifted so as to depress the movable members 62, the recess 63 will coincide with the rim'of the drum 55, and said drum will freely rotate through said recess 63. At the same time planetary gear 68 having come in mesh with central gear 59 and being integral with planetary gear 67 the said central gear 59 will be driven at a different speed from the speed of the pedal-shaft 19, and consequently the sprocket-wheel 46 will have a difierent speed than the pedals 20. This modification Fig. 5 may also be used as a coasting device by locking the lever 7 in such a position that the movable member 62 is not taken along by the driving-drum 55, but that gear 68 is not yet in'mesh with gear 59. The sprocket-wheel and thesleeve 64:, carrying the, same may then rotate, whereas the pedal and pedal-shaft may be kept stationary.

Having now described the invention, that which is considered as new and useful, and desired to be secured byLetters Patent, is

1. The combination in a bicycle with ashaft, of a driver thereon having a plurality of radial arms, a radially-movable member on each arm, a drum adapted to be engaged by said movable member,'and a sleeve secured to said drum for carrying a sprocket-wheel.

2. The combination in a bicycle with a pedalshaft, of a pinion or' gear keyed thereon, a drum loosely mounted on said shaft having a sleeve secured thereto, a plurality of planetary gears on said drum one set of the same adapted to mesh with said pinion, an internal gear in mesh with another set of the planetary gears, and means for shifting said internal gear into and out of engagement with said planetary gear.

3. The combination with a shaft, of a driving member thereon, one or more radial arms on said driving member, a radially-movable member on each arm, a driven member, and means on said driven member adapted to be engaged by said movable member on the radia-l arms.

4. The combination in a bicycle with a shaft,

of pedals secured to said shaft, a driving memher on said shaft, radial arms on said driving member, a movable member on each arm, means adapted to be engaged by said movable member, a sleeve secured to said means and rotatable on said shaft, and a sprocket-wheel carried by said sleeve.

5. The combination in a bicycle with a shaft, of pedals secured thereto, a driving member thereon, radial arms on said driving member, a spring-controlled movable member on each arm, means adapted to be engaged by said movable member havinga sleeve, and a sprocket-wheel carried by said sleeve.

6. The combination in a bicycle with a shaft, I

of a driver thereon, an arm on said driver, a radially-movable member on said arm, and means adapted to be engaged by said movable member. 1

7 The combination in a bicycle with a shaft, of a driver thereon having. one or more radial arms, a movable member on each arm, and a driven memberadapted to be engaged by said movable member. 8.. The combination in a bicycle with a pedalshaft, of a driver secured thereto, a drum mounted thereon, a sleeve secured to said drum, planetary gears on said drum one of the same adapted to mesh with said driver and an internal gear adapted to mesh with another of the said planetary gears. I

' 9. The combination with a shaft, of a driving member secured thereto, a driven member loosely mounted thereon and having notches,

driver rigid with said shaft, a clutch for connecting the driver with and disconnecting it from said power-transmitter, transmittinggears interposed betweensaid shaft andsaid power-transmitter, and means for operating the clutch and also changing the relativecondition of said gears to therebydisconnect said shaft from the power-transmitter and render the gears operative to transmit motion and conversely to connect said shaft with said power-transmitter and render said gears inoperative.

ll. The combination with the pedal-shaft of a bicycle, of apower-transmitter loosely mounted with reference to the pedal-shaft, a

driver rigid with said shaft, a clutch for con- 4 necting the driver with and disconnecting it from said transmitter, a drlvlng-pinion rigid with said shaft, transmitting-gears, one of which meshes w1th said pinion, and means for operating the clutch and also changing the relative condition of said transmitting-gears to thereby disconnect said shaftfrom the powertransmitter and render the gears operative to transmit motion and conversely to connect said shaft with said power-transmitter and render said gears inoperative.

12 The combination with the pedal-shaft of a bicycle, of a power-transmitter loosely mounted with reference to the pedal-shaft, a driver rigid with said shaft, a clutch for connecting the driver with and disconnecting it from said power-transmitter, a driving-pinion rigid with said shaft, transmitting-gears, one of which meshes with said pinion, a gear with which another of said transmitting-gears is adapted to engage and from which it may be disengaged,and means for operating the clutch and effecting the engagement of the said other transmitting-gear with and its disengagement from said gear with which it is adapted to enga e.

13. The combination with the pedal-shaft of a bicycle, and a power-transmitter loosely mounted with reference to the pedal-shaft, of a driver rigid with said shaft, a clutch for connecting the driver with and disconnecting it from said power-transmitter, a driving-pinion rigid with said shaft, transmitting-gears, one of which meshes with said pinion, a gear with which another of said transmitting-gears is adapted to engage and from which it may be disengaged, and a cam-operating member for shifting the clutch and effecting the engagement of the said other transmitting-gear with and its disengagement from said gear with which it is adapted to engage.

14. The combination with the pedal-shaft of a bicycle, and a power-transmitter loosely mounted with reference to the shaft, of a driver rigid with said shaft, a clutch for connecting the driver with and disconnecting it from said power-transmitter,adriving-pinion rigid with said shaft, transmitting-gears, one of which meshes with said pinion, a gear with which another of said transmitting-gears is adapted to engage and from which it may be disengaged, a rotatable and longitudinally-slidable member for operating the clutch and effecting the engagement of the said other transmitting-gear with and its disengagement from said gear with which it is adapted to engage,

. and means for effecting the longitudinal movement of said slidable member during its rotation.

15. The combination with the pedal-shaft of a bicycle, and a power transmitter loosely mounted with reference to the pedal-shaft, of a driver rigid with said shaft, a clutch for connecting the driver with and disconnecting it from said power-transmitter, a driving-pinion rigid with said shaft, transmitting-gears, one of which meshes with said pinion, a gear with which another of said transmitting gears is adapted to engage and from which it may be disengaged, a cam-operating member for shifting the clutch and effecting the engagement of the said other transmitting-gear with and its disengagement from said gear with which it is adapted to engage, an actuator-rod for said member and which extends upward within reach of the rider, and a connection between said rod and said member.

' 16. The combination with the pedal-shaft of a bicycle, and a power-transmitter loosely mounted with reference to the shaft, of a driver rigid with said shaft, a clutch for connecting the driver with and disconnecting it from said po Wer-transmitter,a driving-pinion rigid with said shaft, transmitting-gears, one of which is in mesh with said pinion, a gear with which another of said transmitting-gears is adapted to engage and from which it may be disengaged, a cam-operating sleeve for shifting the clutch and effecting the engagement of the said other transmitting-gear with and its disengagement from said gear with which it is adapted to engage, a telescopic actuator-rod for said member and which ex tends upward within reach of the rider, and a connection between said rod and said'member.

17 The combination with the crank-hanger of a bicycle, of a'shell detachably secured in said hanger, a pedal-shaft mounted in said shell, a speed-changing gear also mounted in C. N. STILSON.

In presence of RALPH JULIAN SACHERS, H. W. HALL. 

